The Federal Research Station for Plant Production Changins began producing white génépi at the Les Fougères site in Conthey in 1989. This complex task took eight years of testing out different varieties and crops, and was carried out in the Liddes region. According to an article published by Changins, the aim was to grow enough dry plants, of good aromatic quality, organically and within a reasonable length of time, in a mountain region at between 1,000 and 1,600 metres of altitude. And that was one of the most challenging aspects of the venture - to produce organic crops of a high-altitude plant at low altitude. To preserve the essence of the génépi, they had to produce a plant which would resist disease, particularly rust fungus; was rich in essential oils, which produce the aroma; and was high in bitter principles but low in thujone - a neurotoxic substance which is used in absinthe.